U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) voted to bolster America’s national security on the home front and abroad by logging his support of the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations Bill during committee consideration of the legislation on Tuesday
The bill financially supports critical security needs at home and around the world, while funding mental health and quality-of-life programs for members of the military.
“In the face of constant threat against our country and her people from forces who wish to destroy freedom, we must remain vigilant and united in the Global War on Terror,” Crenshaw, who is chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, said. “My commitment to keeping America safe is to keeping America strong. The Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Appropriations Bill achieves this goal by investing funds in projects to protect national security and ensure our military has resources it needs to get the job done. Moreover, the legislation keeps faith with our men and women in uniform and their families by providing the health and quality-of-life programs that they’ve earned and deserve.”
The measure, which allots funds for new warships, equipment and training, as well as pay increases for soldiers and military base improvements across the globe, passed through the committee phase and continues through the legislative process.
“Funding for P-8A’s, Tritons, and MH-60R’s as well as funding for training systems for the Littoral Combat Ships, demonstrate our commitment to strategic planning in the mission to protect national security,” Crenshaw said. “These defense assets will be spread throughout the country, including Northeast Florida bases. Naval Station Mayport is the designated homeport for the East Coast LCS fleet and Naval Air Station Jacksonville is the East Coast home for the MH-60Rs, and the nation’s P-8A fleet and Triton operations facility are also based there.”
Crenshaw is also a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee,
“Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for our freedom, and their families endure enormous sacrifice,” he continued. “This bill recognizes that devotion by fully funding the authorized 2.3 percent pay raise for the military, instead of 1.3 percent as requested by the president, and provides funding to maintain 100 percent of troop housing costs through the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).”